There are no majors and no letter grades at Hampshire. Students design their own programme, get written evaluations from faculty, and finish with a year-long independent project. The college opened in 1970 on farmland south of Amherst. As part of the Five College Consortium, students can also take classes at Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke and UMass Amherst.
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Official website: hampshire.edu
1970
Private liberal arts college
Five College Consortium
Fewer than 1,000 students
$50,000 – $58,000
International students, before financial aid
$15,000 – $19,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on hampshire.edu before you apply.
BA Film, Photography and Video
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Environmental Studies and Agriculture
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Game Design and Media Arts
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Cognitive Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Self-designed concentrations instead of fixed majors.
Written evaluations rather than letter grades.
Classes at four nearby colleges through the Five Colleges.
Film and media alumni work as documentary makers, editors and producers.
Many graduates go on to graduate school or start their own projects.
Graduates can apply for up to 12 months of OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling after deadlines
Postgrad
No PG intake
Undergrad
Limited places
Postgrad
No PG intake
The campus has a working farm, apple orchards and a lot of open field. Free PVTA buses run to the other four colleges and into town.
Amherst and nearby Northampton are small college towns with bookshops, cafés and live music. Boston is about two hours east by car.
Form I-20 issued by Hampshire College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Hampshire has early action and regular decision deadlines, usually in November and January for fall entry. Later applications are considered if places remain.
Most students start in fall. A smaller spring intake is also available.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from Hampshire College after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Film and media, environmental studies, game design and cognitive science are common concentrations. Hampshire does not require SAT or ACT scores. Essays and a sense of what you want to study matter more.
Yes. Hampshire offers need-based and merit aid to international students. Many students receive grants that bring the price down substantially.
